Mental Health Forums for young healthcare professionals (lessons learned from Serbia)

Abstract Issue/problem Mental health is an important subject for all healthcare professionals. Challenges of the current pandemic have affected the teaching process at the universities, especially on the faculties of healthcare professions. Description of the problem Taking care of the patients' mental health does not diminish the need to care about the healthcare workers. The pandemic crisis posed new questions and brought out existing obstacles that future healthcare workers face. Results The Mental Health Forum (MHF) was organized within the course “Principles of Public Health Issues” for Ph.D. students of Public health to commemorate the European week of public health 2020. The activity kept going due to students showed interest in using the practice of free associations to discuss subjects important for mental health in the community, working with patients and interpersonal relationships. MHF were hosted by a professor who facilitated the meetings while the undergraduate and PhD students of different programs deliberated on subjects of importance for mental health, both for patients and the healthcare workers. The pandemic crisis, which is still going and demands constant adjustments to be made, raised a number of questions related to individual and professional aspects of life. Lessons Student focus groups formed on the MHF ponder upon substantial issues related to mental health and mental hygiene. The importance that the education process and acquiring skills have on self-confidence and mental health is emphasized, as well as challenges that the pandemic created in finding a way for a young healthcare worker (doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist) to get the necessary skillset for dealing with patients in an assuring manner. MHF raised questions about the positions of the elderly and of the children, mental health of the patients, the link between mental health in the community and opinions about vaccination, preventive measures and evidence-based research. Key messages MHF represents a place to discuss the obstacles in mental health, both in the community and between students. MHF offers support and empowers students to pursue their goals in these troubling times.